11 comments

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  foodad

  2 years ago

  I\'m going to have to make this tomorrow\'s article I think... more later.
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  Glenn

  2 years ago

  The wiggles are indeed good, although I\'m not a fan of the pirate. Hes just a bit too manic IMHO.
  
  Another really good show is the Young Einsteins. Dunno if youve seen it but my son gets just as active watching those cartoony kids as with the wiggles.
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  Noodad

  2 years ago

  My daughter loves them. And they teach her a lot too. I definitely concur.
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  rupertz

  2 years ago

  The american pediatric society officially recommends [B]no[/B] TV for children under 2. If you think the baby einstein series or any other series for you kid under 2 are doing anything for them you are just buying into a marketing lie.
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  Noodad

  2 years ago

  First off, my daughter is not 2. But also, if you saw how a kid under 2 can learn songs, the alphabet, basic reading skills, animal recognition, and colors all from engaging with a tv show like I have, you too wouldn\'t give a sh*t about what the American Pediatric Society said.
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  Harry

  2 years ago

  The Baby Einstein series (including the incredibly fabulous Little Einsteins) and some other series for under two, such as Sesame Street do something for my 20 month old---they are entertaining for him. They make him smile and they encourage him to do things like sing, dance, laugh, giggle, and generally be silly. Yes, those things can come from other mediums, but they can also come from tv. TV is only evil if it\'s a babysitter and used excessively. You seriously would deny any child under the age of two Elmo?
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  QSMama

  2 years ago

  Baby A (almost 2.5) looooooves the Little Einsteins, and her Disney-hating mom (me) is fine with that. I\'ve been suprised at just how great a show it is. She pretends \"Rocket\" all the time, sings the theme song at least ten times a day, wants to play the violin like Leo, and ballet-dances around the house pretending to be June.
  
  She also watched a little Sesame Street and SS videos, and learned to count to twenty, could nail the ABCs at...I don\'t even remember...19 months?...and knows every color, shape, and so on, thanks partly to the show. Yes, her dad and I have influenced her, too, but it doesn\'t hurt to have an entertaining backup when there are, you know, meals to cook, clothes to fold, and blog posts to write.
  
  I\'m afraid I\'ll hate the Wiggles, but I hated the Teletubbies, too, before I saw her reaction to them. You\'re on to something when you say it\'s not the characters you hated, rather, it was too early for your child to enjoy them. (Except Barney. Barney deserves hate.)
  
  She is allowed to watch maybe 1.5 hours a week, and it\'s the first privilege we take away when she\'s naughty.
  
  - L
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  rupertz

  2 years ago

  Don\'t mistake laughing at a TV for learning, Harry. It isn\'t. And when kids grow up and have ADD because they are used to the flashing fast images on a TV why are we surprised as a society? The Baby Einstein series is brilliant for one reason, marketing. They created where none existed for [b]babies[/b] to watch TV. How? With clear titles like Baby Van Gogh, Baby Mozart etc that we all eat up thinking of our babies that way.
  
  Instead our babies get used to sound and motion they simply aren\'t ready to understand.
  
  Here are some links for ya:
  
  http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/money/...
  
  The telling thing about the link above is the interview with the founder of Baby Einstein....he claims that there product is intended for parents to interact with their babies when using, much like a book. Bunch of lies cause he knows all parents do is plop their baby in front of the tv and walk away,
  
  http://www.edupax.org/Assets/divers/documentati...
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  foodad

  2 years ago

  Face it rupertz. Television helps prepare kids for today\\\\\\\'s society where everyone is constantly bombarded by entertainment, games and advertisting. A little knowledge about popular culture is a good thing. Their friends will be talking about it and they will be able to join in.
  
  Am I advocating 3 hours of TV per day? No. Do I advocate reading books? Of course. Do I advocate only books and no TV? No way. I do not want my kids to be little introverts, not do I want them to be TV junkies. I have been allowing them a little TV every day, even the little one. Sure they like TV, but they still prefer books.
  
  The important thing is that you go heavier on situations where they can hone their social skills, crafts and play.
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  rupertz

  2 years ago

  I agree with everything you say foodad. The only thing I have issue with is the whole baby einstein thing. Kids watching TV is one thing (my kids do)....babies watching it is another.
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  PastorStan

  1 year ago

  Grew up with sesame street, still love sesame street, wouldn\'t go see sesame street live to save my life. Went to a wiggles concert last year. LOVED IT! (I do have Eagle Rock on my mp3 player 8) ) Was sad to hear about Greg, though.
  
  As for babies watching TV, we bought a DVD called PraiseBaby (basically, a Christian version of Baby Einstein, but MUCH better done) and started putting that on for our little one when she was only about 12 months. She LOVED it (and still does). She mostly engaged in the music. She\'s now 3 and a half and way smart, very social, and super energetic. She also loves books and singing and playing outside (just bought her first bike with training wheels :eek and she cant get enough).
  
  We have another one on the way and have no hesitation to use the same DVD for this baby as well. I agree with foodad that it\'s all in moderation and balance.
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